Colleges › Virginia › James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University says yes to 71.5% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $69,954 median earnings.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
James Madison University sits in Harrisonburg proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Information Science/Studies, where graduates median $113,345 four years out. 17.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 20,888 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 92% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1170 and 1320 — above the VA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on James Madison University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, James Madison University received 35,750 applications and admitted 27,258 (76.2%), with 4,922 enrolling.
You can apply to James Madison University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1170 and 1320; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 600 | 630 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 570 | 610 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 27 | 29 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How James Madison University compares
| James Madison University | Virginia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 71.5% | 83.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,250 | $21,650 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $69,954 | $53,453 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors James Madison University: $69,954 median at year ten, versus $53,453 across Virginia institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $14,250 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $31,604. For non-residents, James Madison University's $31,604 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
James Madison University is a big school: 20,888 undergraduates at last count.
79.7% of James Madison University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 24.9 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $14,250 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at James Madison University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $113,345 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $104,926 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $104,806 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $98,767 |
| Engineering, General | $91,761 |
| International Business | $91,141 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $91,034 |
| Marketing | $89,944 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $87,056 |
| Economics | $86,681 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $85,137 |
| Science, Technology and Society | $82,455 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $77,393 |
| Mathematics | $75,295 |
| Chemistry | $74,631 |
| Political Science and Government | $73,326 |
| Public Administration | $71,626 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $68,798 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $67,033 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $66,436 |
| Biotechnology | $65,893 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $65,770 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $65,016 |
| Geography and Cartography | $63,768 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $63,065 |
| Biology, General | $62,914 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $62,366 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | $61,496 |
| Anthropology | $60,841 |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other | $59,604 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $59,501 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $58,026 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $57,487 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $57,179 |
| Psychology, General | $56,212 |
| History | $55,782 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $54,093 |
| Social Work | $52,991 |
| Music | $51,882 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $51,500 |
| Sociology | $48,774 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,225 |
Median earnings for these 42 James Madison University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $69,954 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 7 additional James Madison University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for James Madison University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1170–1320 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 71.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is James Madison University's acceptance rate?
76.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 27,258 admitted from 35,750 applicants.
How much does James Madison University cost?
In-state tuition is $14,250; out-of-state students pay $31,604. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do James Madison University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $69,954 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Virginia
- Hollins University — 68% admitted
- Hampton University — 62.3% admitted
- University of Mary Washington — 79.8% admitted
- Emory & Henry University — 83.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.